Soliloquy of an SEHI Post Graduate Intern

(Or Ten Reasons to Choose SEHI for Post Graduate Internship)

By Faye S. Travilla

A medical doctors journey is a long and arduous one. In summary, doctors usually spend at least four
years in college to get their bachelors degree, another three years in medical school to obtain the
necessary theoretical background on medicine, a year in junior internship (aka clerkship) in a 365-day
clinical training before being conferred that coveted M.D. suffix after their names, an academic degree.

The next step is another 12-month of senior internship (also called post-graduate internship) which is a
requisite in taking the Physician Licensure Exams (PLE). Once the examination is passed, they can already
work as a general practitioner or go into further training in an area of specialization which would take
another three to six years.

But lets take a few steps backwards because enumerating these steps can make anyone dizzy and
apprehensive. Let me zoom in in one of the things that burden the minds of junior interns all over the
country: the National Internship Program. After graduating from medical school, aspiring doctors spend
one whole year of training in their hospital of choice, acquiring knowledge and skills in preparation for
the PLE. During training, these young doctors are called Post Graduate Interns (PGI) or Senior Interns.

There are a myriad of considerations in choosing the right hospital for ones internship. Usually, these
are 1) quality and quantity of cases in a hospital 2) working environment including living arrangements
3) fit between time for studying and duty 4) general set-up of a hospital 5) considerations for residency.
There are other factors as well but usually these are the main reasons listed by medical students in
online forums.

Currently, I am working as a Post Graduate Intern in the esteemed institution of Saint Elizabeth Hospital
Incorporated (SEHI). Unlike most of my batchmates who underwent the usual matching process, I
deliberately opted to have a walk-in application because I wanted to go see for myself the kind of
environment Id be working in.

Here I am, midway through my internship, and I still dont have any regrets with this choice. SEHIs Post
Graduate Internship training is the perfect fit for me, and I believe will also be a good choice for other
graduating medical students out there. Here are the reasons why:

1. The training on management of cases is hands-on and direct from consultants to PGIs.
SEHI is one of those hospitals that allow you to manage patients as if it were your own. As PGIs,
we are tasked to go with our senior consultants as they make rounds and discuss our
differentials and management of the cases. These suggestions are also written in our PGI
Progress Notes form, a counterpart of the Physicians Order Sheet. The consultants are top-
notch as they are also from prestigious institutions prior to being in SEHI, so we get the best
flow of discussion and practical clinical application of the concepts we learn in the books.
2. Less time devoted to paperwork and scutwork means more time for patients and cases.
 Unlike in other hospitals, PGIs in SEHI do not perform scutwork (i.e. carrying out of orders,
assisting in transportation of patient, vital signs monitoring) which is usually the part of
internship that is bemoaned by PGIs in other hospitals because these are usually tasks that take
up their time and energy but can be delegated to other members of the medical team. Because
of this, PGIs in SEHI can focus on diagnosing and managing patients, and overseeing the progress
of the patient as a whole. It gives a sense that we are really on the road to becoming doctors
because more is expected from us other than being reinforcement in manpower. There is also
considerably less time in filling up forms because the hospital has devised a separate and
efficient means of accomplishing this, so there really is more time to concentrate on the cases.
Speaking of cases, SEHI is one of the referral hospitals in Region XII so we also cater to various
cases including the usual ones that come out in the PLE.
3. Full support from SEHI for PLE means humane working hours to allot time for studying.
I cannot fully emphasize this advantage in choosing SEHI. About five years ago, there was a
circular from the Association of Philippine Medical Colleges, the body that regulates the
National Internship Program, regarding the ban of 24-hour-duty for PGIs. This is to ensure that
PGIs have enough time to prepare for the PLE and to ensure patient safety while they are on
duty. SEHI is one of the hospitals that complied to this circular, and as such, PGIs have a daily 10-
hour duty (7AM to 5PM). Advantages of this schedule include ample time to review the cases
we encountered during our tour of duty in the day seeing as there is no night duty. This also
means we will not have difficulty adjusting to our review schedules, should the time come.
4. Access to state-of-the-art medical library.
One of the best medical libraries I have ever seen in a hospital setting is here in the heart of
SEHI. It is equipped with the latest editions of medical textbooks that we use in medical school
as well as access to journals. All of this is set in a fully air-conditioned cozy room with ambient
light. There are also six PCs with access to the internet. The library is open during office hours so
during breaks, there is a place for us to review and read on our cases.
5. Service and learning is emphasized at all times.
SEHIs motto is Service Excellence with a Heart. This is a culture inside the hospital where
everyone from the aides to the consultants renders their services with impeccable bedside
manners. The daily endorsement rounds with residents and consultants also teach us very
important clinical pearls and must-knows as clinician which reinforces the things we read from
the books.
6. The financial support is enough to be independent during the training.
Almost all medical students have felt the need to be financially independent at some point
between the first year in medical school to clerkship. SEHI provides a free use of its fully air-
conditioned dorm, including utilities like water and electricity. The meals are also free so a PGI
do not have to worry about daily living expenses. On top of this, SEHI also generously provides a
monthly stipend. Personally, I save this this amount in preparation for my PLE review to help my
parents with the expenses.
7. Strong friendships with co-interns, staff and other doctors are created.
SEHI is a close-knit community. It is not difficult to establish bonds with the people we work with
because everyone is polite and friendly. This is a particular advantage for those who wish to
 practice medicine in Region XII because the consultants here are also the consultants from other
provinces. This can make your local network strong and can help you establish your linkages
whether its for work or leisure.
8. SEHI will not just hone your skills and intelligence, but will also help you build your character.
The culture inside SEHI is one of empathy and competence. SEHI will challenge you daily to be at
your best behaviour and to care genuinely about your patients which is as vital, if not more vital,
than just learning theories.
9. Activities outside the hospital provide holistic development.
Aside from the weekly conference (chairmans hour every Wednesday) which is conducted
within the hospital premises, there are several sponsored lectures and seminars hosted by
various medical societies outside the hospital throughout the course of the training that provide
updates. There are also medical missions and bloodletting drives that give an opportunity to
serve the people.
10. The location of SEHI is ideal for learning and leisure.
SEHI is a stones throw away from big malls. Coffee shops are at a walking distance from the
hospital, offer great selections that are not too pricey, and are seldom packed all conducive for
studying or just chilling. Gensan has its own airport and is connected to other major cities within
the Philippines, making it highly accessible. It is near white sand beaches and has one of the only
three paragliding sites in the Philippines. It is also the gateway for other places like Lake Sebu (a
mix of Baguio, Tagaytay and Sagada) and Mt. Matutum. Any millennial, seeking a place where
city and nature meet, would surely love it here.

Personal considerations that clinched the deal for me and one of the reasons I am glad to be in SEHI is
because I get to spend considerable time with my family which I havent done for almost a decade after
getting my undergraduate degree in Manila and Iloilo. A very good bonus is also that I get to serve our
countrymen from Region XII, something that I have desired ever since I was and undergraduate in UP.

A friend of mine once told me that medicine attracts the best and brightest from college, but I am quite
sure, and lucky for me, that being the best and brightest in biochemistry does not necessarily make one
a good physician. It is the respect and compassion we show towards those with who we come into
contact with, be it patients, fellow interns, administrative offers, or the staff.

Ever since I started working as an intern here in SEHI, I was always asked this question, Bakit dito ka nag
PGI?.

Im sure some of us were also asked this question. I did not have a ready answer to this the first time I
was asked about it, to be honest. Not because I did not have an answer, but because there are a lot of
reasons why I chose to be here.

Why are we here? The list goes on but I believe our reasons could be summarized as this: we want to
learn as we serve our patients in the most ideal the best way possible. And I believe we all want to
learn because we want to serve and ultimately because we want to have the kind of service that
transforms lives and communities someday.
And every day, as I don my white coat, it affirms my commitment to our chosen profession. Altruism,
responsibility, duty, honor, respect and compassion these are the virtues that we also cloak ourselves
with. Every day in SEHI reminds me that our calling is both a duty and privilege and spurs us to always do
our best for our patients. To be a doctor is a privilege because through it, we are able to touch lives,
through it, we are given the chance to share the love of God to our patients.